New Savior: Berlin Can Raise The Dead

MIKE BERARDINO COMMENTARY

Oh, you'll have to win a national championship to earn full lodge privileges, but what you did in your first home start for the University of Miami won't soon be forgotten.

It ranks right up there with any magic perpetrated by Messrs. Kelly, Kosar, Testaverde, Erickson or Dorsey.

This 38-33 win over the hated Gators, Berlin's former team, would have been sweet regardless of the particulars. But Berlin earned serious style points with the comeback he engineered on an emotion-packed night at the Orange Bowl.

Not even the great Ken Dorsey, Mr. 38-and-2, put together a comeback like this.

"This has to put him in the Ken Dorsey category a little bit," receiver Kevin Beard said. "He showed he's a winner."

Booed by UM fans in the third quarter, cheered madly in the fourth. That's the stuff of legend.

How buried was Miami? Moments after Florida stretched its lead to 33-10, ABC-TV analyst Bob Griese said the best thing Berlin could do was realize there was no chance of a comeback.

At that point Berlin had thrown two ugly interceptions and had a sloppy lateral turned into a UF touchdown. It was time, Griese said, for Berlin to work on his rhythm and prepare for future games.

Berlin worked on his rhythm, all right. He hit 12 straight passes at one point and led four straight touchdown drives, not stopping until he had brought the Hurricanes all the way back.

"The thought never crossed my mind we were going to lose," he said.

With 2:38 left, Berlin lay flat on his back at the Florida 43-yard ine. He had just bootlegged around right end for 6 yards on fourth-and-1. He was surrounded by four trainers, all working feverishly to chase a nasty cramp from each calf.

The Hurricanes burned a timeout. They would have burned their last two if they had to, just to keep Berlin on the field.

Two games into his UM career, he had become The Man.

Four plays later, Frank Gore scored from 12 yards and the comeback was complete.

Berlin stood splay-legged on the 13, both index fingers jabbing the air. He put his hands together in mock prayer, then gave a couple of fist pumps.

Once Al Marshall came down with the saving interception, Berlin downed the ball and celebrated the game's end with a bit of Gator tweaking. He flung the ball high overhead, as hard as he could, then turned to face all that orange and blue in the end zone.

Berlin clapped his arms together in a mock Gator chomp.

"The emotions are just sailing right now," Berlin said. "It's just unbelievable."

This 340-yard explosion makes Berlin 48-0 as a starting quarterback, dating to halcyon days at Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian.

He went 1-0 as a Gators starter before transferring to escape Rex Grossman's shadow and stands 2-0 with the 'Canes.

This one, though, was a little bigger than his UM debut against Louisiana Tech.

Before Saturday night Berlin had played in the Orange Bowl (Classic), but he had never played in the Orange Bowl. Different deal, that.

Especially when you're facing your former team, a fine bunch of fellows who couldn't seem to wait to inflict pain on their former comrade. Shannon Snell, the Florida guard, expressed the heartfelt sentiment that he hoped the Gators would make Berlin's "mouth bleed."

How classy.

For the longest time the Gators had their way with Berlin.

Both Florida quarterbacks, workaday sophomore Ingle Martin and talented freshman Chris Leak, did more for their teams than Berlin did for his.

Then came the middle of the third quarter and that baptism of boos and fire. What emerged was a new Berlin.

Working crisply, impressively, mounting a comeback for the ages. Winning his new teammates' confidence.